An early works contract has been awarded for the Little Hartley to Lithgow section of the Great Western Highway upgrade in New South Wales.
The Katoomba to Lithgow duplication will provide major economic and safety benefits. It will improve the connection between Central West NSW and Sydney, reduce congestion, improve resilience and freight productivity, and provide a safer and more reliable journey for thousands of residents, commuters, tourists and freight operators.
Ausconnex has been awarded the contract to carry out early works at Coxs River Road, which will include an upgrade of about 2.4 kilometres of existing highway at Little Hartley to create a four-lane divided carriageway.
The new-look interchange at Coxs River Road, with a road bridge over the upgraded highway will be the first phase of the west section of the upgrade and will aim to improve travel in and around the western base of the Blue Mountains.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said early work relocating utility assets is expected to get under way soon.
“As part of early works around four kilometres of overhead power lines and underground assets will be moved so we can build the new highway,” Farraway said.
“The contract for the major work is currently out to tender and we’re aiming to award in late 2022, with work scheduled to start in early 2023.”
The Australian and New South Wales governments are investing more than $4.5 billion towards duplicating the Great Western Highway between Katoomba and Lithgow.
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